Hangar door structure



l June 8, 1943.

J. R.4 KEYs ETAL HANGAR DOOR STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 15, 1942 -2Sheets-Sheet 1 Tm um .w

June 8, 1943. J. R. KEYS TAL HANGAR DooR STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 15, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR. f/wfs A. KEYS.

Patented June 8, 1943 HAN GAR DOOR STRUCTURE James R. Keys and Henry D.Oberdorfer, New Castle, Ind., assignors to New Castle Products Inc., NewCastle, Ind., a corporation Application January 15, 1942, Serial No.426,844

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an accordion type, extensible and collapsible,overhead supported, curved or straight structure suitable moreparticularly for aeroplane hangar and similar installations and uses.

One object of the invention is to provide a structure of the characterset forth, which may be readily extended or collapsed and when extendedmay cooperate with a confronting structure of like character, oppositelymovable for completely closing the hangar opening, it being understoodthat by reason of the relatively large or wide width of opening and thecomparatively high height of opening required for aeroplane hangarpurposes, some at least being approximately in the order of better than120 ft. for the width of the opening and better than ft. for the heightof opening, the curtain structure and its support must of necessity forsingle man operation be extremely simple and of comparatively few parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain structure of theaforesaid character with an arrangement whereby the curtain at thebottom is capable of being suitably secured in place to the floor of thehangar structure when it is desired to hold the curtain in closedposition against wind resistance, et cetera,it being quite apparent thatin desert-like areas were it not for a curtain closure to an openhangar, the wind blown sand would normally cause considerable objection.

The chief feature of the invention consists in providing a curtainstructure of the character such that the foregoing objectives areaccomplished.

Other features of the invention consist in providing two oppositelymovable curtain structures with confronting lapping portions so thatwhen utilized as half curtains for a single opening, the verticaljunction is of abutting and lapping character.

Another feature of the invention is the arrangement whereby the fabricnear the bottom is provided with detachable Yanchorage arrangements suchthat if the curtain fabric is one that normally extends in use, thecurtain may be initially arranged in fully extended relation, havingreference to its vertical dimension and then as the curtain extends byreason of the fabric weight, it may be shortened by turning up a portionto the main portion; conversely if the fabric is of such character thatit shortens in use, as may be the ca se when it .becomes wet, the turnedup portion may be released and lowered. In either event the length ofthe curtain within a range of adjustment of from 3 to 6" by way ofexample, may be readily effected.

Other objects and features of the invention Will be set forth more fullyhereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a left handcurtain structure, a vportion of the hangar and the ilydoor being shownin section, full lines indicating the extended position of the door andcurtain, dotted linesindieating the collapsed position ofthe curtain andcorresponding position of the door.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but of a modiliedform of theinvention wherein the curtain is` collapsed into position at rightangles to the plane of the opening instead of in alignment therewith, asillustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 also illustrates the junction of twocooperating curtain for a single opening.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the upper end of the curtain structureincluding Imore particularly the cable arrangement and the hinge platesof the curtain together with the trolleys.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the supporting track andV illustrates the cable andtrolley structure associated therewith.-

Fig. 5 is an elevational View taken at right angles to Fig. 4 andillustrates the cable and counterbalance structure as well as thetrackway.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of two curtain portions for a singleopening-shownin the extended and lapped relation, and with the curtainanchored at the base, and the portions connected together. 1

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the confronting endportions of two cooperating curtains when in abutting relation, samebeing taken on line 'l-l -ofv Fig. 5 and in the direction of the arrows,the lap extensions I3 being of metal.

Fig. 8 is a View showing lower end anchorage. A

Fig., 9 is a similar'view showing 'a Vmodifled form thereof. Y Y u InlFig. l of the drawings, I0 indicates a wall post and l2 a' central post.Thesetwo posts are suspended from an overhead trackway 'designatedbythenumeral Il. `The post l2 has the comparatively rigid lap sealextension formation AI3. The trackway supports trolley structures whichare one form of curtain connected to the midportion of certain hingeplates I4 pivotally connected together as at I5. The track position isshown dotted in Fig. l, because it is overhead. The hinge plates andposts support a suitable fabric 2| that forms the door or closure.

The side wall of the hangar includes the stationary portion Iii andhingedly mounted adjacent thereto as at l1 is a flydoor I8. As shown inFig. 1, the door or closure when collapsed is in the dotted lineposition and the flydoor is in the dotted line position. In thisposition the door closure is open (collapsed) and access is had to thehangar. When the parts are positioned as shown by the full lines, thedoor is closed (extended) and access cannot be had to thehangar, throughthe curtain when anchored in extended position. Access is had by sidedoors.

Fig. 2 illustrates another form of the same invention but herein theoverhead track is curved at each end .and its' position is indicated bym1- rneral II. The numeral I3 again indicates the trolley structures. It will be observed that in each of the forms of this invention ltheflydoor I8 closes the gap between lthe side wall of the t hangar and theadjacent rear or .wall post l0. when the curtain is eXtended. Suitabledetachable connection may be made between the iiydOOr and rear post andsuch may be by the lacing arrangement hereinafter described forconfrontling curtain ends when closed. Any other connection may beutilized as foundnecessary or desirable. o

Reference now will be had more particularly toligs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Asshown in these figures =I4. The fabric or canvas preferably will behemmed at the top and additional reenforceinent may be included in .thathem or at the point where theconnector-is to be inserted, A conventionallclawed* grommet or other conventional grommet structure, may beemployed s0 that the -fabric has a reenforced portion where the member23 anchors the same to the hinge plate I4. .Various expedients may beutilized, however, and

the broad invention is not concerned with this detail.

Asfshown clearly in the previously mentioned gures, certain of the hingeplates I4 mount a baise 24 which is slotted to straddle the hinge plateand which is secured to the hinge plate as by rivets 25 and medianlythereof. The upper vend of this base 24 is enlarged laterally as atV 25`and. pivotally supported thereon is the portion 21--see moreparticularly Figs. 3 and 4.

'I he portion 21 extends upwardly` between the inwardly directedportions 28 of aU-shaped track structure, indicated generally by thenumeral 29, land this may be composed of two channels directed towardeach other and spaced apart and connected by base portion 3l] and bywhich the same is suspended or the track may constitute a singleU-sliaped section member with ends 28,

1, Extending transversely through the portion 21 is axle 3I and'ca'rriedthereby at opposite ends'and on rollerraces 32, if desired, are thewheels 33 that ride upon the inturned portions 28. It' will be observedthat the Y spacedqv-heels lform a groove, as it were, to which referencewill be had hereinafter. Each of the aforesaid structures including thepair of spaced wheels or trolley arrangement is positioned centrallywith respect to the ends of the hinge plates and it has been found thata trolley arrangement on every alternate hinge plate is sufficient forsupport purposes. The forward or intermediate post l2 since it isassociated with a half hinge is not required to be swivelably connectedto the forward vtrolley arrangement.

Herein the numeral 34 indicates an upwardly directed portion pivoted at35 to the post I2. The upwardly directed portion 34 is elongated as at3S. This structure is clearly shown in Fig. 5. Two pairs of trolleywheels 31 are carried by this member 34 and the trailing end of theextension 35 thereof has an upwardly extending portion 38 constituting acable anchorage. It will be observed-see Fig. 2that two doors may bemoved into extended position toward the center of the opening of thehangar and to prevent over-travel of any one door, there is provided-seeFig. 5 the stop 39. This prevents over-travel beyond the center. l

Above the track there is positioned a pulley 4-see Fig. 5. At the rearend of the tra-ck there is positioned a pulley 4l and adjacent theretois another pulley 42. It is to be understood the rear end of the trackis recessed as at 43 so that a cable 44 may pass through the aperture 43and be associated with the pulley 42. It will also be understood thatthe upper portion of the track at its central portion is apertured as at45, this again to permit the cable 44 to enter the track, and engagepulley 4G provided for return direction of the cable.

This return portion of the cable is connected at 43 to member 33. Therearward end ofA he cable is looped after passing over pulley 42 andpulley 4l as illustrated and this loop is designated by 44a. The samesupports a weight 41 in turn carried by a pulley 48. The other end ofthe cable 44 is connected at 49 to portion 38 previously referredto. Ineffect, therefore, the cable 44 is of endless character to which thetrolley arrangement 34-38 is secured at one point.

It will be quite apparent, therefore, that when the intermediate post l2is moved toward the center of the track structure, as indicated by stop39, and from the other end of the track, that this movement can beoccasioned by pulling down on that section of the cable 44 between thepulley 42 and the weight 41. This will cause the trolley to move towardstop 39 and at the same time extend the door or closure. Whenever it isdesired to open the door or closure, `pulling down on the cable 44 inthe loop portion 44a, between the pulley 4I and the weight 41 will causeretraction of the trolley arrangement and collapse of the door structureor closure.

Of course, it is to be understood in place of the weight structure andmanual power that there may be utilized a power driven d rurn with thecable wrapped therearouncl and suitably controlled and automaticallycontrolled by travel limit switches so that the drum rotation in eitherdirection will be limited toethat necessary for complete extension ofthe door or complete collapse of the door and no more. Of course, manualcontrol ofthe power of such a construction will permit the door to beopened and closed to any desired intermediate degree. It will be quiteapparent that since' in effect the structure closure under poweroperation.

By referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be o served that. the cable inits lower run, as it` were, is positioned between theV spaced wheels ofeach trolley arrangement, and accordingly, is guided thereby. It willalso be noted from these figures that the upper run of the cable isabove the track structure and above the support for the track structure,this support being indicated by the numeral 5i).

For complete black-out purposes, there may be secured to this supportstructure 55 a depending flap, the same constituting an extension of theflashing 5l. and consisting of a strip of canvas 52 suitably secured asat 53 to the flashing 5l in much the same manner that the canvas bodyportion 2l is secured to the hinge plates, as previously described.

It is to be understood that the hinge plates can be collapsed about 173to 175 and that is sufficient for all practical purposes. It is also tobe understood that openings of this general character are in many casesmore than ft. in height and more than 120 ft. wide. Two doors orcurtainsstructures, therefore, to take care of this opening must be so arrangedas to oifer minimum resistance to opening and closing movements.Whenever the doors are closedthat is, extended-it frequently isdesirable to secure the doors at the bottom so that they are held inplace and not be subject to wind movement and unauthorized access.Whenever it is desired, intermediatepipes at altenate hinges may bemounted, in that case, by fastening a slit or notched pipe to the hingeplate at the bottom thereof. In this connection, it should be secured tothe middle of the hinge plate because the middle of the hinge plate hasonly movement substantially in accordance with the track direction,whereas, each of the hinge pins at the end -of a full hinge not only'hasa general movement In order to secure complete black-out and in view ofthe large areas involved in door closures'of this type, minor expansionand contraction so accumulates particularly in View of the dependingsupport character imposed on the fabric, that preferably the bottom ofthis fabric as shown in Fig. 6, is provided with glove or grommet snapfastener constructions indicated by the numeral and if desired,successive parallel series may be provided much in the manner in whichreef ties are provided on sails.

Whenever the bottom of the door is to be free of the ground or floor ofthe hangar to reduce resistance or drag the lower end may be turnedupwardly and quickly snapped into doubled relation. Whenever the fabricelongates so that it would drag on the ground or floor, the similarshortening in height mai7 be effected. Whenever shrinkage occurs, as mayhappen following a rain storm if canvas is the curtain material,

the previously shortened curtain may be let out, all without. cutting ofthe curtain orV closure. 'y

.Above this extensible arrangement, there is provided V-shaped, fabric,ranchoring members 56, which support loops 51. There is also provided inthe ground or floor beneath the overhead trackway loops or links 58.These loopso'r links are alternated with the rings 51 and a rope 59,which alternately passes from one ring to the other through the groundloop or link, will, as shown in Fig.`6, anchor the lower end of thecurtain or door to the ground or floor.

In Fig. 8, thenumeral 50 indicates a concrete formation of the floor andin which is imbedded a -part of achain 6|,the upper link beingdesignated by the numeral 58. In Fig. 9 the upper link 58 or. ring iscarried by a polygon shaft 6| having the spiral screw portion lillr bywhich the structure is screwed or spiralledinto the ground to serve asan anchorage. ,l

Reference now will be had to the right hand portion of Fig. 2, and Figs.6 and '7. It will be noted in the rst two mentioned figures, that Illadesignates the half hinge and that I2 designates the confrontingintermediate posts of the two door curtains whilel3 indicates theforwardly extending lap sealing extension portions which when the twodoor -closures are extended may abut as shown in Fig. l and seal theopening.

The adjacent ends of the door and more particularly the fabric portionsthereof, are provided with rope anchoring portions l0 as illustrated,andit is to be understood the cable 1lmay be anchored as at12 to one ofthe ground yokes immediately adjacent the midportion of the hangarAopening and then alternately laced across the lapping doors as shown inFig. 6'.

Preferably, of course, this rope 'H would be secured at its upper end toone of the closures and then the cable wouldv be passed from right toleft by the operator therebeneath and secured inthe hook-likearrangementsl0 until finally the lowermost hook-like arrangement shownin Fig. 6 would be engaged and then the rope would lbe pulled taut andfollowing that it would be passed through the ground anchor loop 12 andsecurely tied. This is the preferred form of construction and operationsince it is quite apparent that manipulation of this tie some' eighteenor twenty feetv above the ground is'otherwise impossible withoutladders, inasmuch as the curtains must move in such a manner thatmovement is only horizontal.

It is also contemplated that these hooks v'I0 permit rope 1I to slidetherethrough when the lower end is untied, and either or both doors areopened. In this connection these hooks may include in the root thereofan assisting pulley wheel to reduce friction and binding.

It will also be apparent that when either type of floor anchorage isutilized, as shown in Figs. 8 or 9, that the portion 58 of either can becollapsed and lie parallel to the ground, as it were, and oifer butlittle obstruction. It will, of course, be understood that an operatormay start at one end of the closed door structure and alternately passthe rope `59 through a ground anchor 58 and then a closure ring 57, andso 0n, to the Opposite end of the other door, whereupon it can be tiedand then the first and loose end anchored or if the latter has beenfirst tied, then the surplus Imay be pulled through vall the rings oranchors and the last end tied to the last anchor on the floor near theside wall.

In any event in order to open the curtain or door closure, one end onlyneed be untied and then the opposite end pulled until alltheintermediate anchors are freed ofthe cable or rope 59. In like manner,the cable'l'l will be untied from anchor l2 and then the rope Will beswung to the left and right ina direction opposite to that previouslyemployed, until the cable is free. Thereupon there isV nothingholdingeither one of the closuresV against collapse movement. Thenpulling down onthe loop portion 44a of the cable 44 and on that portionwhich is closest to the intermediatel post 34, will cause the doorclosure to collapse into the dotted position shown inFig. 1 or Fig. 2,dependingupon the type of hangar structure that is being utilized.

Of course, the central portion of cable 5'9 could be anchored or tieddown so that when the outer ends were untied, opening of the doors wouldautomatically pass the cable through the links or loops 51 and 58.

Preferably the intermediate trolley hangars are made slightly wider, atthe Widest part, than the diameter of the trolley Wheels to prevent saidtrolley wheels touching in folded position, thus preventing interferencebetween trolley Wheels and insuring ease of operation at all times.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings'and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others Which willreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all areconsidered to be within the broad scope of. the invention, referencebeing had to 'the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a hangar structure having an openingan accordion type collapsibleand extensible curtain therefor, track means for curtain guidance, saidcurtain being collapsible adjacent a side Wall of the opening, and aydoor movable When the curtain is extended to bridge the space betweenthe side wall and curtain end. I

2. In combination, a curtain extensible along a track, spaced loop meansin spaced relatively xed relation to the track, spaced relatively iixedloop means carried by the curtain, and a tie rope alternately receivableby respective loop means forv anchoring the loop means carriedV by thecurtain.

3. In combination, a pair of extensible curtains movable along a track,spaced relatively xed loop means in spaced relation to the track, otherspaced loop means carried by each curtain, tie rope means alternatelyreceivable by the xed loop means and the curtain loop means for an- Ail)choring the loop means carried by the curtains, rope engaging meanscarried by the adjacent ends of the curtains, and other tie rope meanscooperable with said engaging means for securing the curtains togetherwhen extended.

4. A suspensible, extensible accordion type curtain including incombination an overhead track, trolleys rollable thereon, an articulatedsequentially arranged, hingedly connected series of plates, a curtainsecured at its upper end to said plates for suspension support andmovement by the latter, a certain portion of each plate only having atravel direction, in collapse and extension movements, corresponding tothe track direction, the trolleys being connected to the plates inregistration with said certain portions, and means rigid with thecertain portion of one of the plates and depending therefrom for curtainguidance and like purposes.

5. A suspensible extensible accordion type Curtain including incombination an overhead track, trolleys rollable thereon, anarticulated, sequentially arranged hingedly connected series of plates,a curtain secured at its upper end to said plates for suspension supportand movement by the latter, a certain portion of each plate only havinga travel direction, in collapse and extension movements, correspondingto the track direction, the trolleys being connected to the plates inregistration with said certain portions, and at least one series ofdetachable connectors substantially parallel to the curtain bottom andadjacent thereto for holding up the curtain bottom to eliminate dragthereof, and permitting curtain enlargement upon vertical shrinkage andcurtain shortening upon vertical stretching.

6. A suspensible, extensible accordion type curtain including incombination an overhead track, trolleys rollable therein, a pair ofarticulated, sequentially arranged hingedly connected series of plates,certain of the trolleys being connected to the midportions of certainplates, half hinge plates at the adjacent ends of the two series, atrolley connected to each half plate at the outer end thereof, adepending member rigid with said half plate and aligned with the lastmentioned trolley, a curtain for each series and secured at its upperend to the plates thereof for suspension support and movement thereby,and a lap member rigid with each depending member and projectinglaterally therefrom and secured to the curtain, said lap members lappingthe adjacent series half plate when the depending members are positionedimmediately adjacent each other.

JAMES R. KEYS. HENRY D. OBERDORFER.

